Improvement in grain-separators



G. S. NUTTER, H. NUTTER & C. H. NUTTER.

Improvement in Grain-Separators.

No.129,583. Patented J uly 16,1372.

41300 val 07m). 1m,

speed in the machine.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

GRAFTON S. NUTTER, HARRISON NUTTER, AND CHARLES H. NUTTER, OF BUNKERHILL, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-SEPARATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,583, dated July 16,1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GRAFTON S. NUT'IER, HARRISON NUTTER, and CHARLES H.NUT- TER, all of Bunker Hill, in the county of Maooupin and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and Improved Blast-Regulator for Grain-Separators; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which Figure1 is a perspective View of the regulator applied to a grain-separator,and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawing indicate thesame parts.

Our invention is designed to provide simple and effective means formaintaining a uniform fan-blast in a grain-separator, irrespective ofthe speed of the fan, to regulate the force of the uniform blast, and toenable the feeder and driver to control the speed of the machine. To theaccomplishment of these results the invention consists, first,invproviding the airpassa-ges at the ends of the fan with a shuttercomposed of a series of horizontal hinged slats, which are connected bycords to a governor arranged upon the separator above the fan. Thisarrangement preserves a uniform blast, notwithstanding the variations inthe speed of the machine, because, as the speed decreases, the currentof air opens the shutters to admit a larger volume to the fan, and

as the speed increases the action of the governor closes the shuttersand reduces the volume of air. It consists, secondly, in the combinationof an adjusting device with the cord that connects the shutters andgovernor, by which such cord is tightened or loosened to set theshutters for the production of a uniform blast of the desired force. Itconsists, thirdly, in the combination of an index-finger with thegovernor and shutters, arranged to move over a dial, so that itsindications can be observed by the feeder and driver from theirrespective positions, for the purpose of enabling them to maintain auniform rate of In the accompanying drawing, A represents that portionof a grain-separator containing the fan in the usual manner, and I arethe passages for the introduction of air. The airpassages are eachdivided into two parts by the central upright B, one of which may beopened or closed by the slide 0. D are rectangular frames affixed in anupright position to the sides of the separator overthe openings I thatare unprovided with slides, and within each frame horizontal slats E arepivoted so as to turn inward and leave spaces between them for thepassage of air to the fan. The inner edges of the slats in each frameare connected together by a cord or rod, and from the upper slats cordsF extend through the top of the frames, to the ends of a cross-bar, G,mounted upon the sliding collar of the governor. The shaft of thegovernor has its bearings in a frame, H, affixed to the separator overthe fan, and receives its motion from the horizontal shaftJ by means ofthe beveled gears J. K is the main driving-shaft, from which motion iscommunicated to the fan-shaft and the shaft J by a suitable arrangementof pulleys and belts, as shown in the drawing. When the machine is inoperation the slides G are closed to a greater or less degree, so thatthe current of air shall pass through the shutters, the force of theblast causing the slats to swing down for this purpose. As the speed ofthe machine increases the governorballs are thrown out by centrifugalforce, raising the cross-bar G, which, through the medium of the cordsF, decreases the openings between the slats of the shutters, andconsequently reduces the volume of air admitted to the fan. When thespeed of the machine and fan is low the shutters are opened wider toadmit alarger volume of air. By this arrangement, therefore, an equablefanblast is maintained, notwithstanding the variable speed. To regulatethe distance to which the shutters shall open for the admission of acertain volume of air, blocks L are aflixed to the cords F at any pointbetween the shutters and cross-bar G, and provided with lateral keys m,to which the cords are secured. By turning the keys the cords are woundup thereon in a greater or less degree, to set the shutters thepredetermined distance apart.

N is a dial affixed to the front of the frame H, and provided with anindex-finger, O, which 1%, connected by a pinion, P, with a verticalrack, Q, secured to the cross-bar G of the governor. When the bar Grises and falls under the action of the governor and the force of theblast through the shutters, the index-finger moves around the dial andindicates the speed of the machine and its effect upon the fan andblast. The arrangement of the dial and index-finger enables the feederand driver to note the indications at a glance, and therefore keep themachine at a uniform rate of speed under all circumstances.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. An automaticblast-regulator for grainseparators, consisting of a governor and aseries of pivoted or hinged shutter-slats, E, at

each end of the fan, constructed substantially as described, andarranged to operate in such a manner that the force of the blast shallopen the shutters and the action of the governor close them,substantially as herein shown and described.

'2. In combination with the cords I, we claim the adjusting-blocks L m,constructed substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

S. In combination with the governor and the adjustable shutter-slats, Weclaim the dial and index-finger, arranged as herein shown and described,for the purposes specified.

4. The valve attachment, consisting of the shutter-slats E, pivoted orhinged within the frame D, and applied to the fan-openings I, as hereinshown and described, for the purpose specified.

- GRAFTON S. NUTTER.

HARRISON NUTTER. Witnesses: CHARLES H. NUT'IER.

JAMES A. BEACH, GEORGE COMPTON.

